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Laptop business users to benefit most from new version, Microsoft says
By Doug Bedell / Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News
Published 02-03-2000
Click here for a printer-friendly version of this story
Computer users pining for a more stable Windows operatingsystem may
be tempted to install Windows 2000 Professional onhome computers when
it hits stores Feb. 17.
But experts from Microsoft and elsewhere are quick to inject a
noteof caution: Windows 2000 is primarily designed for businesses.
Ifyou use a Windows 95 or 98 system for games, Internet, e-mail andword
processing, it may be advisable to wait until the release ofthe Millennium
operating system later this year.
"There is some confusion," says Kevin Kerr, senior technicalspecialist
for Microsoft's South Central district. "One of thereasons we haven'
t been doing a lot of advertising is that it's nota consumer operating
system. We didn't want people to go out andinstall it at home. That'
s really not what it is designed for."
The oft-delayed Millennium is being built on the Windows 95/98framework.
Windows 2000 offers less support for consumer hardwareand software,
and it fundamentally changes the way your computerperforms its tasks.
It also requires at least a 133-megahertzPentium processor and 64
megabytes of memory to perform properly.
By most accounts, Windows 2000 is a significantly improved NTsystem,
providing more Windows 98-type flexibility forplug-and-play devices,
Universal Serial Bus connections, FireWirehigh-performance connections
and laptops.
Even before its final release, reviewers have awarded it top marksfor
a design that entwines some of the best aspects of the Windows95/98
platform with NT's big-office business benefits.
But beyond laptops currently running NT 4.0, the general publicshould
stay clear of Windows 2000, Mr. Kerr says.
"We do position it clearly as a business operating system becauseit
has a lot of features that would be of no value to the consumer,unfortunately,
" he says.
Laptop users with NT 4.0 operating systems and docking stationsshould
definitely consider an upgrade, Mr. Kerr says.
Windows 2000 has management features that allow standby andhibernate
modes that conserve precious battery power. Theseadditions to the
NT system permit an office worker, for example, torun a laptop in
an office docking station, then undock and bringthe computer home
to resume a connection to a work server.
"You virtually never have to reboot your laptop," says Mr. Kerr.
The new operating system also can encrypt files by generatingrandom
keys. That way, if a laptop is stolen, the files won't beaccessible
without proper authentication. And Windows 2000's "smartmenus" are
attractive because they automatically adjust MicrosoftWord and Excel
for the way you use those programs.
Judging from Internet discussion boards and computer call-in shows,
there appears to be strong consumer interest in Windows 2000,despite
Microsoft's words of caution.
For those with itchy installation fingers, experts from Winmag.com,
Microsoft and ActiveWindows offer some pointers.
Chief among them is to check your hardware before you install.Windows
2000 includes options for upgrading from any Windowsoperating system
from 3x through Windows 98. However, "cleaninstalls" on a separate
hard-drive partition are almost universallyrecommended.
Those with Windows 95 and 98 should consider keeping thoseoperating
systems in working order in case important programs anddevices don'
t function properly in the new environment.
Windows 2000's installation procedure can be asked to check foravailability
of necessary drivers before any changes are made.Also, the Microsoft
Web site (www.microsoft.com/ windows2000/upgrade/compat/ search/default.sp)
has a searchable index ofsupported devices. In a test installation
on a pair of networkedWindows 98 computers, one Ethernet card installed
properly withoutproblems; the other did not. Many manufacturers have
not yetdeveloped necessary software patches for the new operating
system,Mr. Kerr says.
Windows 2000 may require an upgrade to your motherboard's BIOS(programs
that handle start-up operations in your computer). Usersshould check
with their BIOS maker before attempting theinstallation.
And there is little wiggle room for mistakes if you install the
newoperating system over your Windows 95/98 system. Unlike Windows
95or 98, the 2000 version does not include an uninstall program thatremoves
the new version of Windows and reverts to the previousversion.
Users will be asked if they want to convert their systems to the
NTFile System, NTFS 5. Doing so will irrevocably remove the filesystem
used by Windows 95/98 - FAT 16 or FAT 32. This could be amajor problem
if users want to revert later.
The best advice for those considering upgrading their homecomputers,
Mr. Kerr says, is to wait for Millennium.
"Whether that will be this summer or later, we still don't know,
"Mr. Kerr says.
Staff Writer Doug Bedell can be contacted by writing dbedell@dallasnews.com
CHART(S): 1. Net Resources. 2. Windows 2000 FAQ.
© 2000 The Dallas Morning News All Rights Reserved